general info

I think I started to realize what I was in for when the house music had Portishead, Nick Cave, Television, and under the radar Patti Smith cut “Pissing in a River” going before the show. Though I’d still argue that Remind Me Tomorrow is more putting on a new layer of paint than completely restructuring an artist’s past work, in the live setting, there was a marked difference between every aspect of Etten’s persona on her old and new tunes.

Taking the stage with a vengence, Etten blistered through the brooding synths of “Jupiter 4” and the fist bumping granduer of “Comeback Kid” like a Nick Cave or Patti Smith type figure, preaching her words with a heavy dose of attitude.

After briefly taking up her more typically indie rock stage presence, with old guitar friend “Ruby” in tow, Etten was back to her newfound (perhaps sci-fi TV acting influenced) persona, carrying a wind chime around the stage for a haunting rendition of “Memorial Day.” Having come from “Tatifa,” “Memorial” was like flicking a light switch from day to night.

Her band also animated her songs in the live setting in slightly more intense ways, again ramping up the (dare I say) gothy new territories hinted at on the album proper. Bit more flanger on the bass guitar here and there, more wobble to a keyboard or a distorted guitar a bit more present in the mix made for nearly apocalyptic moments as each slow burning song chugged on.

Towards the end of her set, Etten took the rock star persona to less ellusive and more emotionally direct places with the almost honky tonk groove to “Your Shadow” or the strained belting of “Hands.” Sitting at the piano for a Sinead O’Connor cover (“Black Boys on Mopeds”), Etten directed the audience in a deep breath to let the tension subside for a minute after that one.

My picture is from the climax of “Seventeen” (of course) and save a sparky rendition of classic “Serpents,” the show took up more of a tone of romanticism to end things off with the lovely “Stay” ending off the set proper and “Love More” sending us off into the night. One to remember for sure.

Hi! I’m going to make my year-end list after reviewing the albums yet to be release in this post. Last year my year end list was finished around December 14th, so I think that is an appropriate date to keep in mind. I have a long running note on my phone of stuff that I’m still thinking about which I may try and review aside from the list.

My philosophy is generally that a year-end list should indicate the albums that impacted me in that year, which obviously gives an advantage to albums released in the beginning of the year, but hey this is an imperfect business so sue me–I am aware that albums kicking around on my “to listen to list” might impact me long after they came out.

The 1975-A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships

Self proclaimed pretentious pop rockers make their magnum opus.

Earl Sweatshirt-Some Rap Songs

Taking after Frank (or maybe the other way around), the contemplative, secretive former member of Odd Future finally emerges after a long absence, seemingly diving further into the abstract ether of underground musical modes.

I was pretty consistent at the very beginning of the year, then fell off the face of the earth with the end of University/finals/moving to Rhode Island, but of course I’ve still been listening to music. Here’s my midway list of songs and albums!

Albums:

1. kacey musgraves-golden hour

2. Snail Mail-Lush

3. Janelle Monae-Dirty Computer

4. car seat headrest-twin fantasy

5. Sophie-Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-sides

6. charli xcx-pop 2

7. Against All Logic-2012-2017

8. Porches-The House

9. DJ Koze-knock knock

10. Goat Girl-Goat Girl

songs

1. snail mail-pristine

2. car seat headrest-bodys

3. frank ocean-moon river

4. charli xcx-femmebot

5. ought-desire

6. cardi b-I like it

7. kacey musgraves-slow burn

8. Ravyn Lenae-4 Leaf Clover

9. Troye Sivan-My My My

10. Sophie-immaterial

11. Migos-BBO

12. andersen paak-bubblin

13. The Carters-Apeshit

14. Janelle Monae-Pynk

15. sidney gish-Sin Triangle

16. soccer mommy-cool

17. hop along-how simple

18. westerman-confirmation

19. natalie prass-short court style

20. drake-nice for what

21. empress of-trust me baby

22. cupcakke-duck duck goose

23. Jorja Smith-Teenage Fantasy

24. rae sremmurd-Powerglide

25. illuminate hotties-Patience

I’m graduated now and although I have other goals in life/career, music journalism is something I think will be a big part of it so I want to beef up my credibility and consistency.

Here’s my plan.

Brevity is key, so I’m going to reward roughly one 8 out of 10 per week, giving it a 400-600 word review a week after release. This is my main recommendation of the week.

Then, I’ll probably have a 7.5 review weekly which is a secondary recommendation and perhaps another review of something that I’m interested in writing about. Both of these will likely be less than 200 words.

I want to post everything on Fridays so I can have the whole week to look at some releases, compile my ideas, and get them out there all at once at a specific time rather than feeling like I could always be posting something and feeling overwhelmed all the time.

Also I would like to post the singles for the albums I’m interested in for the next week on Friday, maybe write a blurb about the big ones.

My biggest thing right now is I feel overloaded all the time with blogs talking about mountains and mountains of good albums that you NEED to check out so I’m trying to be really precise with recommendations. Also, I’m inspired by John Oliver. He basically releases a video every Sunday evening so I know that Monday morning I have a story to watch on youtube every week. I want my blog to be a place that people know to visit at a specific time and get a few things to check out, then come back next week when they need more recommendations.

Also, summer tends to be pretty slow so maybe I’ll try and catch up on the albums on my midyear list that I’ve given you no explanation for yet? I probably won’t write a review with a number of say Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves because I feel like it’s key to review albums that get swept up into the PR frenzy when they happen because they become these massive cultural things so quickly and I want to be able to formulate my own opinion BUT I could ruminate on my personal relationship to it or something like that.

Music that doesn’t get a shit ton of buzz… if it’s good it’s good and I’d like to be open to taking a look at it whenever. IF THIS APPLIES TO YOU send your music to me on twitter @burtandonovan my email is a mess and I don’t get any music from it anymore lol.

If you read this, you’re my GOLDEN HOUR.

Also check out my new Snail Mail t-shirt, and please text me your thoughts on Pristine, it’s a gay anthem, the “Chanel” of 2018 in my humble opinion.

Charli XCX-Pop 2

Porches-The House

The singles for the latest from Aaron Maine see two sides of the singer-songwriter. “Find Me” is Maine the detached partier, accompanied by rattling horns and driving rhythm, whereas “Country” is a confessional croon, the climax articulated by flourishing vocal layering. The album leans a bit towards the later, oftentimes showcasing autotuned vocal wandering over sparse territory, but Maine finds ways to sneak uplifting dance-isms into the overarching gloom. “Goodbye” offers the full scope as a mournful departure finds enlightenment with a soaring chorus and bright beat. It’s a more patient listen than “Pool,” but Maine’s comforting intimacy again shines.